American Dad!: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Seth MacFarlane and friends talk about the animated Smiths of Langley Falls, Virginia, led by patriarch Stan Smith, a rabid but clueless CIA agent. This hilarious gathering features loopy digressions about spoilers, Roger’s planet, the CIA, and politics. This Paley Center for Media live event honors “American Dad!,” the animated comedy series about conservative CIA Agent Stan Smith and his family: housewife Francine, liberal co-ed Hayley, nerdy high-schooler Steve, alien Roger, and talking fish Klaus. Chris Hardwick (comedian and host of “Web Soup”) moderates the following panelists: creator/executive producer/voice actor Seth MacFarlane (Stan and Roger); executive producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman; producer Kara Vallow; and cast members/voice actors Dee Bradley Baker (Klaus), Rachael MacFarlane (Hayley Smith), Scott Grimes (Steve Smith), and Wendy Schaal (Francine Smith). The panelists touch on such topics as: the drastic action producers took when they feared the show would be cancelled; the cast’s preference for working together rather than having solo recording sessions; and MacFarlane’s decision to pitch “American Dad!” upon thinking that “Family Guy” was dead and then having to juggle two shows. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: whether the characters are physically modeled after the voice actors; if producers act upon fan suggestions for scripts; and MacFarlane’s inspiration from Paul Lynde in crafting Roger’s voice.